Areas to Renovate

The cost to remodel various rooms in your home will vary with their size, condit
ion, and finishes, but the general characteristics of some spaces can help indic
ate the expense of remodeling. Updating some rooms may require the skills of sev
eral contractors to work on systems or structure, while others can be refreshed
with cosmetic updates. Including a kitchen in your remodel may cost $18462, comp
ared to $4316 for a bathroom, $1874 for a laundry area, $6204 for a basement, an
d $8113 for a garage. Often simpler to update, living room renovations cost an a
verage of $2201 and dining rooms $1938, compared to $974 for a hallway, $2394 f
or a staircase, and $1802 for an office.
Features Included in Remodel Project
The finishes and features you select for your remodeling project play an importa
nt role in planning for the cost of the job. Special skills, manpower, or time n
eeded to accommodate some installations can add to expenses and affect the scope
of the project. Your general contractor can evaluate your plans to determine if
specialized subcontractors will be needed, such as an electrician, plumber, fin
ish carpenter, or home theater technician. Service rates vary with specific feat
ures, but average $3417 for flooring changes, $12827 for cabinet installations,
$1039 for counters, $4216 for windows, $1733 for doors, $1197 for skylights, and
$804 for lighting. Including fireplace upgrades in your remodel may cost $1433,
while adding built-in shelving, furniture, or cabinetry averages $981 compared
to $2217 for renovating closets. Installing or changing trim and moulding costs
about $2019 nationally, while installing appliances may cost $2202, and a sound
system, $1504. The cost of improvements to structure and systems will be influen
ced by their condition and the type of changes, with improvements to walls costi
ng an average of $947, compared to $1203 for ceilings and $2362 for plumbing.
Home Size
Remodeling costs can vary widely with the scope of a project and the nature of u
pgrades that are included, but the overall size of your home may help you plan f
or the expense of the job. Whole-house remodels on homes less than 1,000 square
feet generally cost about $18347, while it may cost $22417 to update a home of 1
,000-2,000 sq. ft., $28904 for 2,000-3,000 sq. ft., and $36121 for homes between
3,000 and 4,000 sq. ft.
Age of Home
The complexity of some aspects of your remodel may be affected by the age of you
r home. In newer houses, accessing and changing wiring, plumbing, ventilation, a
nd framing is often simpler than in older buildings, and the overall condition o
f younger structures may require less repair and improvement to accommodate upgr
ades and modernization. Discuss with your contractor how the characteristics, co
ndition, and age of your home may contribute to remodeling costs, since bringing
an older home up-to-date may be a more complex and time consuming project than
updating a newer building.
Building Permits
Many home remodeling projects require building permits, which are issued by muni
cipalities. Requirements and fees vary by location, but your contractor or local
code enforcement office can help determine which aspects of your project requir
e permits. If permits are already in place, work can proceed with average costs
of $20641, but if your contractor must secure permits, the additional time invol
ved may increase costs to $21794. Failing to obtain proper permits can result in
costly delays and fines which will add to the overall costs of your remodel, so
be sure to address the issue before starting any related projects.
Planning for a Whole-House Remodel
Depending on the scale and features of your remodeling project, the process can
be time consuming and disruptive, but also very rewarding for your entire family
. Your contractor can help you evaluate the variety of factors that will influen

ce the complexity and cost of the job, from the age and size of your home to the
features and upgrades you select. Thorough planning can help you anticipate the
expense and difficulty of your renovation.
Home Remodeling Contractor
If you are ready to line up a Pro for a home remodel, contact a remodeling contr
actor in your area to discuss the job. All of the Pros in our network have been
background checked and our in-house staff has verified their credentials and ins
urance coverage. Hiring a trusted Pro can give you the assurance the job will be
done right, every step of the way.